Step 2: Get Android apps

Your Chromebook won’t automatically download the same Android apps as your phone or tablet, so you’ll need to download them again. Also, some apps don’t work with some Chromebooks, so you won’t be able to download them.

Sync your apps across Chromebooks

By default, your Chromebook syncs the Android apps on your Chromebook across any other Chromebooks you’re signed in to. If your Chromebook isn’t syncing your apps, check your sync settings to make sure you’ve selected "Sync everything" or turned on Apps syncing. Learn how to change your sync settings.

Back up and restore your app data

By default, automatic backup and restore of Android app data is turned on. This way, if you move to a new Chromebook, you can restore your Android app data.

To turn backup and restore on or off:

Click your account photo.

Click Settings .

In the "Google Play Store" section, click Google Play Store.

Click Manage Android preferences.

In the "Personal" section, click Back up my data.

To turn data backup off, move the switch from right to left. To turn it on, move the switch from left to right.

Note: If your Chromebook has syncing turned off, but backup and restore turned on, it will still back up your Android apps. But if you have more than one Chromebook, your Android apps and their data might not sync across your Chromebooks fully.

What your Android apps can see

Android apps can download files to and read files from your Chromebook’s downloads location. You can change this by opening an app’s permissions page, then turning off the Storage permission.

Some Android apps that have permission to see your location might also access Bluetooth on your Chromebook.

If you’re browsing in incognito mode and you open an app, then right click to open a link in that app, you’ll leave incognito mode.

If you turn off the Google Play Store on your Chromebook, all data and settings for your Android apps will be erased from your device.

You can review other privacy and security settings which come with using Android apps. Remember: some of the settings described in these links might not apply or appear on your Chromebook.

What Google can see

When you opt in to using the Google Play Store, some system apps and features may send Google information about how you use those apps.

If you’ve opted to send Google data about your Chromebook’s usage and performance, Google will also get diagnostic and usage data about your Android apps’ activities by default, as well as crash reports. Any crash reports Chrome sends to Google may also include some sensitive information about your Android apps.